Wheres all the privileges to be canadian

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

I'm already done,so I think it is a good idea,lol (not) For mtl/van, the interview is such a waste for many, they ask you a few simple questions and thats that!! Why can't they just phone ya!! I'm sure they ar ein with the airlines and hotels, get a partial cut of their profits,lol

Totally agree!

Nick and I have already talked about this..lol it's so far in advance but we are going to make the trip together...we're excited, I love Montreal and he's never seen it....we'll make it not such a waste of time. Yep, I'm sure they get a piece of that money pie!!!! sigh!

[rebeccajo 14]

actually I don't think that its unreasonable to think that Canadian/American couples should have an easier time. A reasonably large chunk of us can just cross the border and look for work under NAFTA, no long application process or interview involved. And (this is me opening a huge can of worms) we are much more likely to just meet during non-visa-mediated encounters. I'd suggest that there is a much lower proportion of Can/Am marriage based immigration fraud because of this closeness. (actually I don't think that marriage based immigration fraud is as prevalent as is depicted in the media, regardless of the country)

The process is ridiculously long, but I'd be happy if they'd just stop making us go to Montreal or Vancouver for a pointless 3 minute interview. If they'd waive the interviews for the typical Can/Am couple they'd solve the backlog and acknowledge the close relationship between the two countries.

agreed

Oh really? And then I suppose other 'friendly nation' consulates should waive the interview requirment as well?

Where do you draw the line?

Edited October 21, 2007 by rebeccajo

[Caladan 19]

So suck it up and join the club. Plus its damn cheap to visit Canada during the wait, try saving the money to fly to china on a regular basis, then post again.

Now there really isn't any need for that kind of attitude..

No, there isn't; however, I can understand the frustration presented in it. The OP gave the impression that "since Canadians are such-and-such way, they shouldn't have to jump through the same hoops as everyone else." That's bound to rub some people the wrong way. After all, Canada is a foreign country (as many Canadians are so fond of reminding Americans), so it only makes sense that Canadians are subject to the same processes that every other foreign national is as well.

Sort of. On the other hand, the first time C. used a passport to enter the U.S. was *after* his I-129F had been approved. There's a lot he can do as a Canadian that recognizes the close relationship between Canada and the U.S. Work visas, longer maximum stay per year, that sort of thing. It's not a problem for older Canadians to own homes in the U.S. and travel there. Canada's already not in the same category as China.

Has there ever been a Canadian-American couple on VJ denied for proof of relationship? (Definitely not true of Guangzhou, and certainly no one is told to get another Canadian if their girl or guy gets denied.) Anyone else think it's weird that Ron is so dangerous he can't get a fiance visa but a waiver for a weekend visit isn't a big deal? I think that's patently nuts.

There needs to be some oversight, but I'd be fine with an arrangement that entailed that Canadian-American couples either didn't need the fiance visa (but would necessarily have a green card interview), or received one without an interview. The interview for us was a complete joke, to the extent I have to wonder if they're silently sniggering at all the couples that bother with it rather than just driving down one day and 'spontaneously' getting married.

[Carlawarla 1]

While I like that this post was moved to the Cdn. forum, I believe my relief was only that "we" Canadians not all be painted in such a negative manner. Frankly, I find the OP's question/comment not very tactful, and I was and am embarrassed when Canadians show such attitude. Yes, to each their own, free speech, all that jazz, but I get annoyed when it's assumed that because we live right next to the USA, that we should be afforded special privilages. Are those special privliages afforded to Mexican's? They are bordering the US as well.

I also believe this post is going to get bashed regardless of which forum it's on as word spreads.

Carla

Kathyrn, as always you are always eloquent in your responses. I too often respond emotionally top posts. Thanks for putting things in perspective for me!

[rebeccajo 14]

While I like that this post was moved to the Cdn. forum, I believe my relief was only that "we" Canadians not all be painted in such a negative manner. Frankly, I find the OP's question/comment not very tactful, and I was and am embarrassed when Canadians show such attitude. Yes, to each their own, free speech, all that jazz, but I get annoyed when it's assumed that because we live right next to the USA, that we should be afforded special privilages. Are those special privliages afforded to Mexican's? They are bordering the US as well.

I also believe this post is going to get bashed regardless of which forum it's on as word spreads.

Carla

Kathyrn, as always you are always eloquent in your responses. I too often respond emotionally top posts. Thanks for putting things in perspective for me!

I agree.

[Caladan 19]

actually I don't think that its unreasonable to think that Canadian/American couples should have an easier time. A reasonably large chunk of us can just cross the border and look for work under NAFTA, no long application process or interview involved. And (this is me opening a huge can of worms) we are much more likely to just meet during non-visa-mediated encounters. I'd suggest that there is a much lower proportion of Can/Am marriage based immigration fraud because of this closeness. (actually I don't think that marriage based immigration fraud is as prevalent as is depicted in the media, regardless of the country)

The process is ridiculously long, but I'd be happy if they'd just stop making us go to Montreal or Vancouver for a pointless 3 minute interview. If they'd waive the interviews for the typical Can/Am couple they'd solve the backlog and acknowledge the close relationship between the two countries.

agreed

Oh really? And then I suppose other 'friendly nations' should waive the interview requirment as well?

Where do you draw the line?

There's a good argument for drawing it at Canada. Very open border, six months visitation permitted. (Just like we draw lines at Canada for, say, requiring passport travel until very recently.)

But I'd be fine with a system rather like the UK for any VWP country. Send in the paperwork, no interview requirement, you're good to go. It took my friend three weeks, start to finish, to get an 'unmarried partner visa' to the UK,.

[Flames9_RN 358]

lol, oh ya, it will be locked soon enough, sigh!! Maybe we should set up a password to get into each countries forum,lol better yet, have to conduct a phone interview,lol Or simply a 10 page paper on why the Calgary Flames are the best team in the NHL!

[rebeccajo 14]

actually I don't think that its unreasonable to think that Canadian/American couples should have an easier time. A reasonably large chunk of us can just cross the border and look for work under NAFTA, no long application process or interview involved. And (this is me opening a huge can of worms) we are much more likely to just meet during non-visa-mediated encounters. I'd suggest that there is a much lower proportion of Can/Am marriage based immigration fraud because of this closeness. (actually I don't think that marriage based immigration fraud is as prevalent as is depicted in the media, regardless of the country)

The process is ridiculously long, but I'd be happy if they'd just stop making us go to Montreal or Vancouver for a pointless 3 minute interview. If they'd waive the interviews for the typical Can/Am couple they'd solve the backlog and acknowledge the close relationship between the two countries.

agreed

Oh really? And then I suppose other 'friendly nations' should waive the interview requirment as well?

Where do you draw the line?

There's a good argument for drawing it at Canada. Very open border, six months visitation permitted. (Just like we draw lines at Canada for, say, requiring passport travel until very recently.)

But I'd be fine with a system rather like the UK for any VWP country. Send in the paperwork, no interview requirement, you're good to go. It took my friend three weeks, start to finish, to get an 'unmarried partner visa' to the UK,.

Visiting is visiting. It's not immigrating.

Anytime a citizen of another nation chooses to live here, there should be a different bar of admissability.

Canadians are no more entitled than anyone else in that regard.

And insofar as visa processing IN the UK, that is a function of NUMBERS. There are simply fewer people moving there than here. Hence paperwork moves more quickly.

lol, oh ya, it will be locked soon enough, sigh!! Maybe we should set up a password to get into each countries forum,lol better yet, have to conduct a phone interview,lol Or simply a 10 page paper on why the Calgary Flames are the best team in the NHL!

Pardon me for buggering into 'your' forum.

[Caladan 19]

It's not just numbers that made her visa faster, rebeccajo. She didn't have to get a medical or an interview, either.

Plus, the K-1 is a non-immigrant visa; the 'immigrating' portion happens later, and Canadian or British citizen would still have to go through that. Or here's another way you could do it. It's possible to apply for work visas at the border. If an interview is so important, have an approved I-129F, and allow the border patrol to conduct the interviews and grant the visa much in the same way the (non-immigrant, dual intent) L-1 or the TN visas are.

[rebeccajo 14]

It's not just numbers that made her visa faster, rebeccajo. She didn't have to get a medical or an interview, either.

Plus, the K-1 is a non-immigrant visa; the 'immigrating' portion happens later, and Canadian or British citizen would still have to go through that. Or here's another way you could do it. It's possible to apply for work visas at the border. If an interview is so important, have an approved I-129F, and allow the border patrol to conduct the interviews and grant the visa much in the same way the (non-immigrant, dual intent) L-1 or the TN visas are.

I don't know who the 'she' is you are referring to - I am obviously unfamiliar with this story.

So the K1 is a non-immigrant visa. Does that mean if you are Canadian that visa should be administered in a different manner than it is for citizens of another nation?

[Caladan 19]

It's not just numbers that made her visa faster, rebeccajo. She didn't have to get a medical or an interview, either.

Plus, the K-1 is a non-immigrant visa; the 'immigrating' portion happens later, and Canadian or British citizen would still have to go through that. Or here's another way you could do it. It's possible to apply for work visas at the border. If an interview is so important, have an approved I-129F, and allow the border patrol to conduct the interviews and grant the visa much in the same way the (non-immigrant, dual intent) L-1 or the TN visas are.

I don't know who the 'she' is you are referring to - I am obviously unfamiliar with this story.

So the K1 is a non-immigrant visa. Does that mean if you are Canadian that visa should be administered in a different manner than it is for citizens of another nation?

Full story: friends of mine, one American, one UK, met in grad school. He proposed last April. They filed the paperwork so she could come this fall to the UK where he has a postdoc. Start to finish for her 'visa journey': three weeks. No interview, no medical, just a few pieces of paper plus her birth certificate. No requirement that they marry in 90 days. I think her visa is multiple entry and good for two years.

As to your question about the visa being administered in another manner -- why not? C.'s never had to apply for a tourist visa, either. Neither, I suspect, did your husband. It's not unprecedented for countries to have different relationships with some countries rather than others. The UK, Canada, and Australia & NZ have a closer relationship than that of the U.S. and those countries. Is that unfair? Not really -- they have a long and shared history.

And given that AOS is what gives someone the right to work and stay, not the K-1, I wouldn't see much wrong with a system that said, essentially, you can adjust status based on marriage off of the VWP without having to demonstrate a lack of immigrant intent. Cuts down on the paperwork, still doesn't give anyone the right to stay without AOS and means a faster process for everyone else who actually needs the K-1 to get their partner here.

[Reba 2]

Is there any canadian like me that is kind of upset to have to go through all that ####### since 1991 due to fact that other countries been "visa frauding" United States????

Its ridiculous in my opinion...but oh well just needed to let go some steam i guess hehe

Point is however, that there are in fact many illegal Canadians in the US, just as there are illegal Mexicans, Iranians, Greeks, Russians, Chinese etc etc etc...ergo, if you want to live in the US legally you have to endure the whole legal process of it. Regardless of a relationship between your home country that may or may not be tenuous at best lately. We're not "best friends" anymore. Even if we are attached at the hip. Long gone are the days of Brian Mulroney and Ronald Regan sitting eating jelly beans at a fireside summit. Now its more like George and Steven glowering at each other from each end of a very long table and arguing over passport requirements. Get used to it, cuz its only going to get worse.

[rebeccajo 14]

It's not just numbers that made her visa faster, rebeccajo. She didn't have to get a medical or an interview, either.

Plus, the K-1 is a non-immigrant visa; the 'immigrating' portion happens later, and Canadian or British citizen would still have to go through that. Or here's another way you could do it. It's possible to apply for work visas at the border. If an interview is so important, have an approved I-129F, and allow the border patrol to conduct the interviews and grant the visa much in the same way the (non-immigrant, dual intent) L-1 or the TN visas are.

I don't know who the 'she' is you are referring to - I am obviously unfamiliar with this story.

So the K1 is a non-immigrant visa. Does that mean if you are Canadian that visa should be administered in a different manner than it is for citizens of another nation?

Full story: friends of mine, one American, one UK, met in grad school. He proposed last April. They filed the paperwork so she could come this fall to the UK where he has a postdoc. Start to finish for her 'visa journey': three weeks. No interview, no medical, just a few pieces of paper plus her birth certificate. No requirement that they marry in 90 days. I think her visa is multiple entry and good for two years.

As to your question about the visa being administered in another manner -- why not? C.'s never had to apply for a tourist visa, either. Neither, I suspect, did your husband. It's not unprecedented for countries to have different relationships with some countries rather than others. The UK, Canada, and Australia & NZ have a closer relationship than that of the U.S. and those countries. Is that unfair? Not really -- they have a long and shared history.

And given that AOS is what gives someone the right to work and stay, not the K-1, I wouldn't see much wrong with a system that said, essentially, you can adjust status based on marriage off of the VWP without having to demonstrate a lack of immigrant intent. Cuts down on the paperwork, still doesn't give anyone the right to stay without AOS and means a faster process for everyone else who actually needs the K-1 to get their partner here.

As to your friend's process - you are correct. That is the UK immigration process. For EVERYONE. Not just 'friendly' nations.

The K1 was originally created to speed up what used to be a very lengthy spousal visa process. The two visa types (spousal and fiance) are nearing equalization in speed of processing. I do suspect to possibly see the K1 eliminated at some time - at least as we know it. Whether or not any change is allowed for residents of 'friendly' nations, time will tell.

The fact the K1 is non-immigrant is moot. There is immigrant intent written all over it and as such beneficiaries of the visa should be screened equally. It was only created to allow the couple to be together while a lengthy adjustment process was completed - rather than be separated. Rather than grumble about how long it takes for your Canadian K1, consider that you could be forced to wait for a spousal visa.

Besides, as Reba says - don't expect things to get any easier in today's political climate. These days, the word 'immigrant' is practically equal to the words 'illegal immigrant' in the minds of many people. As someone moving to this nation, immigrants are viewed as taking jobs from Americans. Just because your SO is Canadian doesn't make them any more loved than the brown-skinned guy down the street cutting grass.

My husband is from a VWP nation. I never for one second (then or now) would expect his immigration to be handled any differently than someone from anywhere else on this planet. True, I was amazed at how two developed nations couldn't clear my husbands background check in less than 17 months. But beyond that, asking for preferred status based upon nation of birth smacks of entitlement to me.

[trailmix 77]

Aside from Canada, are there any other consulates where you have to travel 5000 km to the interview (in my Husband's case)??

Edit: Did I mention he will have a reindeer carrying his tucker bag as he is going on foot?

Edited October 21, 2007 by trailmix

[jodee 30]

umm, i travelled 3167km, from Darwin to Sydney, in Australia. (thats air distance), probably closer to 6000kms by road. Sydney is the only consulate in Australia that does K1 interviews,...so your not alone my friend!!

Edited October 21, 2007 by jodee